The fairytale that is Copenhagen
Palaces and castles, colors and fairytales, and at the same time modern architecture, impressive bridges, incredible feats of engineering, canals, beautiful squares and a flawless system of urban transport, Copenhagen has it all.
Copenhagen is a vibrant metropolis of impressive architecture and design; a beautiful, spotless city, and a fairly permanent place on the list of cities with the highest standard of living, but also at a corresponding cost.
The capital of Denmark, or «the port of the merchants», as is the translation of the word Copenhagen, is located in the eastern part of the country. Most of the city is built on the island of Zealand, while a smaller part of the city is also located on the island of Amager. It has a population of 528,208 inhabitants (1,918,239 in the metropolitan area).
It is worth noting that the University of Copenhagen is one of the leading research institutes in Europe, with nine Nobel Prize winners and one Turing Prize winner.
Top places to visit
Nationalmuseet (National Museum)
Houses artifacts dating back to the ice age, and admission is free.
Rosenborg Castle
The Palace of Copenhagen Palace in renaissance style. Each hall is dedicated to one of the country’s monarchs. Open daily.
The Little Mermaid
At the edge of the harbor, the statue is a trademark of the city, a work by Edvard Eriksen from 1913, attributed to a fairytale heroine of author Hans Christian Andersen.
Κastellet
An old fortress, near the little mermaid, which today has been turned into an amusement park.
Tivoli
An incredible amusement park and garden in the heart of the city center.
Strøget
All of the sidewalks in the heart of Copenhagen attract many tourists.
Christiansborg
A palace which today is home to the Danish Parliament.
Oresundsbroen
Inaugurated in 2000, this is a bridge and tunnel connecting Copenhagen with Malmo in southern Sweden, through which both trains and cars can pass.
Amalienborg
The Winter Palaces, and home to the Royal Family.
Marmorkirken
This marble church is located near Amalienborg Palace. The dome of the church is the largest in Northern Europe and is inspired by the dome of St. Peter’s in the Vatican.
Nyhavn
The old and picturesque canal of the city is one of its main attractions. In one of the houses of this canal, the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen spent a large part of his life.
Opera
The modern opera house is located in the port of Copenhagen and its construction was completed in 2005.
Vor Frelsers Kirke
It is located in the district of Christianshavn and the ascent to the top offers a panoramic view of Copenhagen.
Carlsberg Brewery
A beer factory, where you can also get a guided tours.
Statens Museum for Kunst (National Museum of Art)
This is Denmark’s national gallery. There are numerous collections, both from Denmark and from the rest of Europe. Admission is free on Wednesdays.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
An Art museum with Greco-Roman and Egyptian sculpture collections.
Both the Nationalmuseet and the Statens Museum for Kunst have rooms dedicated for children.
Getting Around
Copenhagen has an excellent network of buses and trains, which serve both the central areas of the city and the suburbs. In addition, it has a two-line metro. Many of the city’s residents, of course, use a bicycle for their daily commutes.
